(OT) To Veterans All

[pendragon]

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Dr. John McCrae (1872-1918)

[jwboyd]

Thanks for posting this timeless tribute.

I want to add my thanks to all who have served their respective countries in the cause of freedom and democracy.

[RobW]

I'll certainly second that! And, as always, a special tribute to my dad for his service in WWII. (And yes, I do tell him when I see him. )

[krissel]

I second Rob in his thanks to our parents...to my Dad for his four and a half years of WWII service to his country and also to my Mom for holding down the homefront.

     

[RHPConsult]

Thanks, Harv, for posting that moving remembrance of dark days, long gone by.

 Anyone who has ever walked through the Normandy cemetery, or visited the memorial at Pearl Harbor, or the monuments throughout Gettysburg need not be reminded what sacrifice means.

As I put out the flag this morning, I recalled these lines that have been reappearing recently on the ‘net - - hardly the elegance of McCrae's  - - but well worth a few moments of reflection today, or on most any day.

Sorry I don't know the writer's name . . .


                            It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
                            Who has given us freedom of religion.

                            It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
                            Who has given us freedom of the press.

                            It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
                            Who has given us freedom of speech.

                            It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
                            Who has given us freedom to assemble.

                            It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
                            Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

                            It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
                            Who has given us the right to vote.


And, finally, this creative piece . . .
USA Vets Tribute

[krissel]

I sent a Veterans' Day card to my Dad last night and got a thank you email from him late this eve.  Since he's asleep by now I can't ask for his permission to quote part of it but I'm going to anyway...
(Note, to better understand the scene: Dad frequently wears an Encom WWII cap)

QUOTE

Quick story. Mom & I were at Shoprite today, checking out, I was packing and was suddenly confronted by a younger man.
He said "Sir, I want to thank you", I asked," For what?".
He replied, "For this day". I shook his hand as I glanced at his cap, which boldly stated Viet Nam Vet.
Taken by surprise I could only blurt out, "Thank you too".
Well those two events made my day and convinced me that all is not wrong with our USA.

 

[Highmac]

Yesterday (Tuesday)was Armistice (Poppy) Day in the UK - at 11am (Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) the PA at the shopping centre we were in announced the time and invited us to join the two minutes silence. Very moving - not just shop workers but shoppers, young and old, stood for that minute with their own thoughts.

So many nations were involved, Brits, Americans, Canadians, Australians, Kiwis, Indians, (to name but a few), particularly in WWs 1 and 2; so many gave their lives. Many thanks to all the veterans of all those nations.

At least we can still thank our neighbour - he flew Spitfires and Mustangs in WW2 (but not, he spells out, in the Battle of Britain - 'I was too young for that').